EMBEDDED VIDEO DEMO MODE FOR TELEVISION
Process and methods for effectively displaying product features in a point of purchase environment to draw the attention of the consumer to the manufacturer's television. In one embodiment, the un-used capacity of the television memory devices are used to store and run an embedded video demo. The embedded video demo can be accessed through the television's menu structure, via a dedicated button on the remote control device, or can be set to run periodically after a predetermine time period. When the embedded video is set to play continuously or periodically, the television's on-screen-display controller blocks the display on the screen of a primary video corresponding to a program signal being input to the television, which in many instances will be a common program signal broadcast to all of the televisions on display in a consumer electronics store or department.
The present invention relates generally to televisions and, more particularly, to systems and methods that facilitate the utilization of an embedded video mode in a point of purchase environment.
BACKGROUNDTelevision sales continue to become more and more competitive as the capabilities and the features of televisions continue to expand and improve. Televisions, like most other consumer electronic products, are typically sold in a consumer electronics store or a consumer electronics department of a large department store. As depicted in
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide systems and methods that facilitate an effective display of product features in a point of purchase environment.
SUMMARYEmbodiments described herein are directed to improved methods, systems and apparatus for effectively displaying product features in a point of purchase environment to draw the attention of the consumer to the manufacturer's television. In a preferred embodiment, the un-used capacity of the television flash memory devices are used to store and run an embedded video demo. The embedded video demo can be accessed through the television's menu structure, via a dedicated button on the remote control device, or can be set to run periodically after a predetermine time period. When the embedded video is set to play continuously or periodically, the television's on-screen-display (OSD) controller blocks a primary video corresponding to the program signal being input to the television from being displayed on the television's screen. The primary video will in many instances typically correspond to a common program signal broadcast to all of the televisions on display in a consumer electronics store or department.
In one embodiment, the television includes a screen, an OSD controller, a projection or image display system coupled to the screen and the OSD controller, and a CPU coupled to the OSD controller. The CPU preferably includes flash memory devices and an embedded demo video or other content stored in the memory as well as software to decode an embedded demo video and control the display of the embedded video or other content.
Other objects, systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of this invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. It will be understood that the particular methods and apparatus are shown by way of illustration only and not as limitations. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the principles and features explained herein may be employed in various and numerous embodiments.
The details of the invention, both as to its structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, all illustrations are intended to convey concepts, where relative sizes, shapes and other detailed attributes may be illustrated schematically rather than literally or precisely.
It should be noted that elements of similar structures or functions are generally represented by like reference numerals for illustrative purpose throughout the figures. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the preferred embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONEmbodiments described herein are directed to improved methods, systems and apparatus for effectively displaying product features in a point-of-purchase (POP) environment to draw the attention of the consumer to the manufacturer's television and its features. As depicted in
Many manufacturers have resorted to playing an extended demo video in an attempt to highlight the picture quality features of their television. However, the consumer C typically only waits a few seconds when judging picture quality, thus playing a long video tends only to give a consumer C a somewhat random impression of the picture performance. Instead of a long video that only gives the consumer C a somewhat random impression of picture performance, embodiments provided herein are directed to the use of short video clips, on the order of 10 to fifty seconds, and more preferably, 10 to 20 or 30 seconds, as part of a demo sequence.
As depicted in
An example of a preferred video sequence 151 is provided in
Instead of requiring these video sequences to be played from a peripheral device, e.g., an internal or external DVD, which would require the cooperation of the store's or department's personnel, the video clip or sequence is advantageously embedded in memory within the television system, stored preferably in the excess capacity of the television's flash memory devices. As shown in
Turning to
As depicted in
Should the operator choose at decision block 314 to deactivate/turn off the demo or not play the embedded video, the operator is returned to the setup menu 312.
In operation, as depicted in
Alternatively, in a random intermittent play process, the predetermined period n can be set to a new value at step 334.
The particular examples set forth herein are instructional and should not be interpreted as limitations on the applications to which those of ordinary skill are able to apply this device. Modifications and other uses are available to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A control and image display system for a television comprising
- a screen,
- a projection/image display system coupled to the screen,
- an on-screen-display (OSD) controller coupled to the display system and the screen,
- a video input coupled to the OSD, and
- a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the OSD controller, the CPU comprising non-volatile memory upon which content is stored along with a software program, the software program includes a set of instructions for instructing the OSD controller to display the stored content on the screen and block the display of video input through the video input.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the content is in the form of one or more still images.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the content is in the form of a video clip.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the software program further comprises instructions for activating or deactivating the display of the content on the screen.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the software program further comprises instructions for selecting and controlling a plurality of display modes corresponding to the frequency of display of the content.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the software program further comprises instructions for controlling the display of the content at predetermined intervals.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the software program further comprises instructions for controlling the display of the content at random intervals.
8. A process for displaying content on a screen of a television in a point of purchase environment comprising the steps of
- blocking the display on a screen of a television of a video program being input into the television from an external source, and
- displaying on the screen content embedded in memory in the television.
9. The process of claim 8 wherein the content is in the form of one or more still images.
10. The process of claim 8 wherein the content is in the form of a video clip.
11. The process of claim 8 further comprising the step of activating the display of the content on the screen.
12. The process of claim 11 further comprising the step of deactivating the display of the content on the screen.
13. The process of claim 8 further comprising the step of selecting and controlling a plurality of display modes corresponding to the frequency of display of the content.
14. The process of claim 8 further comprising the step of displaying the content at predetermined intervals.
15. The process of claim 8 further comprising the step of displaying the content at random intervals.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 17, 2007
Publication Date: Jun 18, 2009
Inventor: Peter Mortensen (Tustin, CA)
Application Number: 11/958,246
International Classification: H04N 5/50 (20060101);